Manqabat · 33 stanzas
Dahr Juz Jalwa-e-Yaktai-e-Mashooq Nahin دہر جُز جلوۂ یکتائِ معشوق نہیں
by Mirza Asadullah Khan Ghalib · for Wiladat of Imam Ali (a)
About this manqabat
Mirza Ghalib's second qasida in praise of Imam Ali (a). It opens by reflecting that the world is only the display of the one Beloved, and that knowledge, love and fine words alike are vain; ashamed of such talk, the poet calls on Ali (a). He praises him as the manifestation of God's grace and the heir of the Prophet (s), and closes asking for grief for Shabbir (a), a truthful heart, and Paradise for the friends of Ali (a).
Source: Urdu text: Urdu Wikisource (public domain). Roman Urdu and English: prepared by the Centre.
The manqabat
Stanza 1
The world is nothing but the splendour of the Beloved's oneness;
Where would we be if Beauty did not wish to behold itself?
Stanza 2
Such listless gazing, that it brings neither warning nor delight!
Such helpless longing, that it has neither the world nor faith!
Stanza 3
The song of the highs and lows of being and non-being is idle noise;
The mirror that tells madness from composure is vain.
Stanza 4
The image of meaning is all a craving to show itself in form;
The word of truth is all a cup for the taste of praise.
Stanza 5
The boast of knowledge is false, and the gain of fine words is well known!
Whether this world or faith, each is the dregs of a single cup of heedlessness.
Stanza 6
Like the theme of loyalty, submission holds only wind in its hand;
Like a footprint, dignity has dust upon its head.
Stanza 7
Love is the unravelling of the binding that holds the senses together;
Union is rust on the face of the mirror of certainty's beauty.
Stanza 8
The mountain-digger was a hungry labourer at his rival's house of pleasure;
Bisutun is a mirror of Shirin's heavy sleep.
Stanza 9
Who has seen the breath of the faithful strike fire?
Who has found any effect in the laments of grieving hearts?
Stanza 10
I hear the chatter of the people of the world, but
I have neither the means for praise nor the patience for curses.
Stanza 11
How much idle talk I utter, God preserve us,
Wholly outside the bounds of dignity and composure!
Stanza 12
O pen that writes ravings, write the words 'There is no power save God's';
O nature beset by evil whispers, call out, 'O Ali!'
Stanza 13
The manifestation of God's grace, the life and heart of the Seal of the Messengers,
The qibla of the Prophet's (s) family, the Kaaba where certainty was created;
Stanza 14
Wherever that wellspring of creation walks,
Every handful of dust there becomes the pattern from which the earth is drawn.
Stanza 15
Wherever his footprint shines forth,
That handful of dust holds in trust the honour of both worlds.
Stanza 16
Through its link with his name the earth has such rank
That the back of the sky stays bent for ever beneath the earth's pride.
Stanza 17
It is the grace of his kindly nature at work that always
The breath of the morning breeze is perfumed with the scent of the rose.
Stanza 18
The keenness of his sword is the talk of the world:
May it not somewhere cut the very thread of creation!
Stanza 19
His splendour so burns away unbelief that before it
The glory of the idol-temple of China fades like a lover's colour.
Stanza 20
O refuge of souls! O giver of grace to heart and soul! O King!
By the verdict of certainty you are the heir of the Seal of the Messengers.
Stanza 21
For your most pure body the Prophet's shoulder was a pulpit;
For your exalted name the brow of the Throne is the setting of a seal.
Stanza 22
Who but the Necessary Being can sing your praise?
Only the candle's own flame can adorn the candle.
Stanza 23
On your threshold the grain of the polished stone
Is the written pledge of servitude of Gabriel, the trusted one.
Stanza 24
Ready as offerings to be scattered at your door
Are the life, heart and faith that God gave to the creatures of dust.
Stanza 25
For your praise there are heart and soul, palate and tongue;
To salute you, the Tablet and the Pen are hand and brow.
Stanza 26
Who can sing the praises of the one whom God has praised?
Who can adorn the highest Paradise?
Stanza 27
Asadullah Asad is goods in the market of sins,
For whom there is no buyer but you;
Stanza 28
In the boldness of setting out his wishes he is brazen in asking,
So firm is his faith in the largeness of your grace.
Stanza 29
Give my prayer such grace of acceptance
That Answering itself says 'Amen' a hundred times at every word.
Stanza 30
May my breast so brim with grief for Shabbir
That my eyes stay coloured with my heart's blood.
Stanza 31
May my nature burn with such ardent love for Duldul
That as far as its feet can go, my brow may go after them.
Stanza 32
A heart whose lineage is love, a breast whose air is the oneness of God,
An eye that worships the divine splendour, and a breath that chooses truth;
Stanza 33
The burning of Hell's flame and smoke spent on the enemies;
The roses and hyacinths of highest Paradise given to the friends.
Share this